5. Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich, a bandleader and jazz drummer, was well-known for his rapid and strong drumming, which was never at the expense of skill. At the age of four, he was already playing on Broadway and in vaudeville shows, thanks to his self-taught genius status as a child. By the age of 15, he was the second-highest-paid child entertainer in the United States during the 1930s, and he went on to perform in play sessions with artists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, among others. Given this, it is certainly not surprising that many people consider him to be one of the most influential drummers of all time, especially in the music industry.
5. Buddy Rich
4. Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker’s name may not be as well-known as that of his former bandmate Eric Clapton, but he has had just as much of an impact on the music industry. Baker was a founding member of both Cream and Blind Faith during the 1960s and 1970s, earning the moniker “rock’s first superstar drummer.” He was one of the first to use two kick drums and to record long solos, making him a pioneer in the genre. Some even consider Baker to be one of the founding fathers of heavy metal drumming, however, he was adamantly opposed to the term “father of heavy metal drumming.”
4. Ginger Baker